Community border row in Equatoria to be addressed by committee
By Isaac Vuni
March 9, 2009 (JUBA) – The Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly has today given one month to a standing specialized Committee of Peace and Reconciliation to address inter-communal and inter-state disputes involving Eastern Equatoria (EES) and Central Equatoria (CES) states.
At issue are land claims between the two states along the border of Magwi and Juba Counties, where wartime patterns of displacement and resettlement have complicated ownership along with new political factors.
In a heated debate chaired by Speaker James Wani Igga, a report on inter-multi-tribal conflict was presented by Hon. Mary Nyaulang Ret, chairperson of the standing specialized Committee on Peace and Reconciliation, who said the conflict involved Acholi, Bari, Lolubo and Madi over ownership of a piece of land between Nyolo and Kit bridges along the Juba-Nimule road.
She said the conflict has generated claims and counter-claims that affected prompt delivery of services to people who had been and are still living together from before the CPA and the introduction of the census counting exercises last year allegedly influenced the people to fight in order to have larger constituency areas.
The committee led by Hon. Mary Nyaulang Ret resolved that borders dividing the communities should be confirmed and authenticated by the official maps as they stood on January 1, 1956, where the Juba-Magwi border was the Juba-Nimule road from Nyolo river to Umo river near Lobonok ninule junction.
Resolutions also said that administrators of EES and CES shall abide by these boundaries but at the same time have the right to install sign posts, slogans or established infrastructures suitable for running their respective administration.
Final resolution of dispute is to be tackled by parliament after thorough consultations with communities including relevant documents. In the meantime, a neutral and inclusive adhoc committee is established to monitor the situation and continue to serve as linkages between the communities concerned.
Hon. Bieatrec Aber, a controversial figure who represents the area, was absent as issues affecting her own constituency were being deliberated.
Hon. Alfred Barakat Manga (NCP-Yambio) said the four community disputes must immediately be addressed by parliament before legislators go on a 45-day recess for sensitizing their respective constituencies about the purpose of Constituency Development Funds.
Hon. Martin Aligo Abe (SPLM) said there were a lot of border dispute problems in south Sudan but nothing concrete was availed by the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS). He added that it was better that GOSS examine the current decentralization system on how well it’s operating, otherwise it could be a major causes of problems.
Hon. Jok Deng (NCP-Upper Nile) said the government of GOSS was neither the first nor the last southern administration that could make use of colonial-era maps for resolving emerging border disputes in south Sudan today.
Hon. Esther Ikare Eluzai remarked that conflict between EES and CES has been politicized and was surprised that border disputes are coming up at the time when people are about to go for general election in July this year. She says living elderly people must be interviewed to identify the border between the two states.
Hon. Ajongo (SPLM-Aweil) said usage of colonial drawn maps could easily indicate how to clearly demarcate the borders; he cautioned, otherwise, that southern politicians are increasing their respective borders for the purpose of winning in the upcoming general election.
Hon. Daniel Wuor Jok (SPLM-Upper Nile) said the presence of arms in the hands of unauthorized citizens increases the border disputes in south Sudan today that have even involved states against each other.
Hon. Dr. Achol Marial (SPLM-Jonglei) emphasized that Goss should immediately come up with a boundary commission to address escalating dispute within South Sudan.
Hon. Peter Longole Kuam remarked that governors and commissioners in various states are not comprehensively working according to borders already demarcated by the colonial government.
After lengthy discussion, Hon. Lino Wnade raised a motion to terminate the debate and proposed formation of adhoc committee made up of neutral member to the border disputes, while Hon.Jimmy Wango Miji countered with a motion that the same committee should continue accomplishing their task within one month. 62 voted in favour, six against and ten undecided. The commitee had started its work on December 6, 2008
(ST)
Mr Famous Big_Logic_Boy
Community border row in Equatoria to be addressed by committee
Now where is the lost community and jungle tribe of dinkas, it is time for you to copy from this. Internal issues about land or borders should not be handle in stupid way where guns are involves. Your madness has always made you to cliam leadership but having big and huge head empty of ideas only loating and eating. It is new Sudan, but still the decoration of borders should be applied back to 1956. Also our elders are very important in this point, lets forget about the idiots who have just use the power of guns and little knowledge that they have learnt to decicve with others on killing and violences. This madness of dinkas and jungle creature in particular is a very big issue, they love to point their hands on other community while hiding their own problems, selling their gilrs to murle and nuer but still claiming that they have been attacked, yes if you have been attacked it is because of madness of selling your girls with food. I hope that you will copy this process of settling border problems from the wise and genuine people of Greater Equatoria. Perhaps you should send some of your lost members to attend the meeting so that they can copy the fundamental skills for addressing problems. I think that this lost community of junglese will recover to normal life when the whole Southerners are in 1 nd class life. They will be replacing the current 2nd life in South.
Thomas Ader
Community border row in Equatoria to be addressed by committee
I personally thank Mr Isaac Vuani for this sensitive issue. I know my self that there will be border row in Equatoria and and South Sudan as all and it is not bad for the communities to claims their land and I know this issue will be very complicated because South Sudan Ten States defined the tribes as well as land.
In the past,the Great Equatoria was divided into two of Eastern and Western and their border line was Yei, where Yei and Juba belong to the East and west Yei belong to the West but during the commission of the counties defined the tribes more than before. In fact Magwi county become county in Eastern Equatoria and Yei becomes in the West and I have been to both disputed areas in which both have right but there should be committees forms to takes look at it as suggested by Honourable MPS. the disputed Kit area is shares by three communities of Madhi in the South,Acholi in the Southeast and Lolubo cover the large of it. Also the same with in Southern Barri areas with Madhi where Nyanbang, homo and part of Carpentor belong to Madhi which are also cliams by Barri.
I would therefore advice the Government of South Sudan to call for the conference to overcomes the issues before election becuase Majority communities sometime forces minority community out of their land like what had happen in Malakal in last one month and it is everywhere.
there are many disputed areas between community and community and Akobo disputed by Lou Nuer and Anyuak, Boma between Murle and Kechipo, Muruakipi between Toposa ana Nyanythom,Movolob between Agaar and Jurbel, Malakal between Ngok and Shiluk and many more that I know.
It would for the Government to forms the committee of Elder to solved borders problems because politicans maybe just interesting in land rather than the right.
It
sarah cherise
Community border row in Equatoria to be addressed by committee
We have seen SSLA legislators debate on critical motions and come up with verbal resolutions that are never put into action.
Never the less, the same rhythm is likely to play in the regional parliament this year.
Land and security have become the daily debate among our ethusiastic legislators, we need to see more action on ground other than comittees presenting reports on daily basis where nothing is done after that.
Try and bite, dont stop at barking our dear MPs in the SSLA.